No. 8 Miami tops Boston College to remain unbeaten in ACC

CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- When Miami junior Rion Brown was fouled on a drive and took a hard spill late in Tuesday night's game against Boston College, he rolled onto his stomach and did a pushup before heading to the free-throw line with a grin.

The Eagles didn't give Miami much of a workout.

Brown, a reserve, tied a career high with 22 points, and No. 8 Miami remained unbeaten in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 72-50 victory.

The Hurricanes' ranking this week is their highest since 1960, and they are 9-0 in the league, which equals the school record for ACC victories in a season. They are not resting on their laurels.

"The moment you get distracted, it's like driving your car and texting at the same time," coach Jim Larranaga said. "It's too easy to get into an accident."

The Hurricanes (18-3, 9-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) have won 10 consecutive games and are 10-0 in their on-campus arena, winning each of the past three home games by at least 22 points. They are the last unbeaten team in league play among the major conferences.

"When you start believing in yourselves, it snowballs," Boston College coach Steve Donahue said. "You have a team with an incredible amount of confidence. They are talented, they're older and there are not a lot of weaknesses."

The Eagles (10-12, 2-7) lost to Miami for the second time in three weeks, and for the sixth consecutive time.

Kenny Kadji scored 10 points during a span of four possessions to start a second-half surge for Miami. He finished with 16 points and eight rebounds in 21 minutes for the Hurricanes, who went 11 of 22 from 3-point range. They held an ACC opponent to 50 points or less for the fourth time.

The Eagles shot only 37 percent, including 5 of 23 from 3-point range. Joe Rahon, averaging 10.8 points per game, did not score.

The game matched teams at the top and bottom of the ACC, but there was no letup by the Hurricanes. Scott went sprawling to the hardwood in the opening minute to corral a loose ball. Another scramble sent two Hurricanes diving to the court in pursuit, and Miami hit the boards hard from the start.

"We have a senior-laden team, and those guys are very hungry," Larranaga said. "They're having fun playing together."

When Boston College reduced its deficit to six points early in the second half, Miami responded with a 17-4 run to put the game away. The spurt started with the 6-foot-11 Kadji -- often a force inside -- causing damage from the perimeter.

"I can do both," he said. "It doesn't matter to me. Whatever the team needs. Just call my name, and I'll do it."

Kadji sank a runner, hit a 3-pointer, converted a four-point play and then made one of two free throws for a 43-29 lead.

"Daggers," Donahue said of Kadji's baskets.

Soon the margin was 50-31, and then 61-36. The Hurricanes never trailed, racing to leads of 8-2 and 25-10. The margin was 33-23 at halftime.

Brown, who has battled a shooting slump much of the season, scored 15 points in the second half and finished 5 of 7 from 3-point range.

"My teammates did a great job of finding me and kept passing me the ball," he said, "and I just kept knocking them down."